ANALYSIS OF CROSS-PLY LAMINATES WITH PIEZOELECTRIC FIBER-REINFORCED COMPOSITE ACTUATORS USING FOUR-VARIABLE REFINED PLATE THEORY

This study presents an analytical solution for cross-ply composite laminates integrated with
a piezoelectric fiber-reinforced composite (PFRC) actuator subjected to electromechanical
loading using the four-variable refined plate theory. This theory predicts parabolic variation
of transverse shear stresses and satisfies the zero traction on the plate surfaces without using
the shear correction factor. Using the principle of minimum potential energy, the governing
equations for simply supported rectangular plates are extracted and the Navier method is
adopted for solution of the equations. The comparison of obtained results with other common
plate theories and the exact solution indicates that besides the simplicity of the presented
formulation, it is very accurate in analysis of laminated composite plates integrated with
PFRC. Also the effects of the thickness ratio, aspect ratio, number of layers, staking sequence
and amount of electrostatic loading on the displacements and stresses are investigated and
the obtained findings are reported.